For high school students interested in neuroscience, participating in an online summer research program can provide great (and early) exposure to the field. These programs often involve working directly with researchers, analyzing data, and engaging with current topics in brain science. Since they are conducted online, they also offer flexibility and accessibility, allowing you to gain research experience without the need to relocate or travel.
Beyond subject-specific knowledge, you also build a range of transferable skills through these neuroscience research opportunities. By combining structured coursework with practical or project-based research, you will work on scientific writing, data analysis, critical thinking, neuroimaging, data analysis, and research methods commonly used in neuroscience. If you are considering a future in science or medicine, these experiences can strengthen college applications and help clarify academic and career interests.
To help you choose, we have compiled a list of 15 online summer neuroscience research opportunities for high school students:
1. Lumiere Research Scholar Program – Neuroscience Track
Program dates: Varies by cohort: summer, fall, winter, or spring. Options range from 12 weeks to 1 year.
Application deadline: Varying deadlines based on cohort.
Eligibility: You must be currently enrolled in high school and demonstrate a high level of academic achievement.
The Lumiere Research Scholar Program is a selective research opportunity that allows high school students to work one-on-one with Ph.D. mentors on independent projects, including in neuroscience. Over a 12-week period, you’ll be guided through the process of conducting research and writing a formal paper on a topic of your choice.
If you’re interested in neuroscience, you can explore topics like cognitive science, neurobiology, brain-computer interfaces, or computational neuroscience. The program emphasizes critical thinking, academic writing, and research design, helping you build skills useful for future scientific work. By the end, you’ll have a completed research paper that demonstrates your ability to engage deeply with a specialized field. You can find more details about the application here.
2. Horizon Academic Research Program (HARP) – Neuroscience Track
Program dates: The spring and fall cohorts run 15 weeks, while the summer cohort runs 10 weeks (June-September).
Application date: Multiple deadlines throughout the year for the Spring, Summer and Fall cohorts.
Eligibility: High school students with good academic standing (>3.67/4.0 GPA) can apply. Most accepted students are 10th/11th graders! Only a couple of tracks require formal prerequisites, more details of which can be found here.
Horizon Academic offers trimester-long research programs for high school students interested in a wide range of subjects, including neuroscience. You can choose from both quantitative and qualitative research tracks, allowing you to explore neuroscience through experimental design, case analysis, or theoretical frameworks.
Once you select your subject area, you’ll be matched with a Ph.D. scholar or university professor who will mentor you through the development of a comprehensive research paper. The final product, typically around 20 pages, can serve as a foundation for publication or future academic work. Alongside structured feedback and a recommendation letter, the program supports you in gaining experience in independent research early in your academic path.
3. UCLA Neuroscience High School Scholars Program
Cost: Free
Program dates: June 16–July 24
Application deadline: February 7 – March 3
Eligibility: Open to high school juniors and seniors (ages 16–18)
In the UCLA Neuroscience High School Scholars Program, you’ll spend the summer exploring topics in neuroscience with a focus on Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias. Through virtual seminars, journal clubs, and literature reviews, you’ll examine both the scientific basis of these conditions and the cultural factors contributing to health disparities in diagnosis and treatment.
The program includes mentored research components where you’ll contribute to ongoing investigations and gain experience analyzing data and discussing scientific findings. You’ll also attend neurology grand rounds and engage with faculty and researchers to better understand the field. By the end of the program, you’ll have worked on a complete research project in neuroscience.
4. Stanford University Summer of Neurosciences
Cost: Free
Program date: July 8–31
Application deadline: March 14–May 1
Eligibility: Open to high school juniors and seniors
Stanford University’s Summer of Neurosciences program introduces you to core areas of the field through a three-part experience centered on scientific literature, professional development, and clinical research. It includes journal clubs where you’ll read and analyze current neuroscience studies, work in small-group presentations, and engage in discussions that build your understanding of research.
The program also includes career sessions with neuroscience professionals. You may also attend optional Grand Rounds hosted by Stanford’s Neurology and Neurosurgery departments, where leading researchers and clinicians present cutting-edge work on topics ranging from brain disorders to surgical techniques.
5. Rice University NeuroCamp
Cost: Free
Program dates: July 19-20
Application deadline: Applications open in March and are first come, first-served
Eligibility: Open to all high school students
Rice University’s NeuroCamp immerses participants in core and advanced neuroscience topics through interactive lectures and guided discussions. The curriculum introduces you to the fundamentals of neurons, neurotransmission, neuroanatomy, and neurological disorders.
It also gives you a glimpse into specialized areas like computational neuroscience and the philosophy of mind. The program further includes sessions on STEM career pathways and college readiness, where you can engage with Rice faculty, current students, and professionals about pursuing neuroscience at the undergraduate level.
6. Columbia Brain Seminar for Teens and Opportunities for Research Mentorship (BrainSTORM)
Cost: Free
Program dates: Seminar Series: September–May (Monthly); Mentorship Program: June–May (one-year duration)
Application deadline: January 1
Eligibility: Open to all high school students
If you’re interested in studying how the brain works through both academic learning and research, Columbia University’s BrainSTORM program combines monthly seminars with mentorship opportunities. The seminars cover a wide range of neuroscience topics such as epilepsy, Alzheimer’s disease, and experimental design, and are led by professionals across fields.
Those accepted into this online summer neuroscience research opportunity for high school students are matched with a research mentor to carry out a project. The project is to be completed over the academic year and presented at a final symposium in the form of a poster session.
7. Albany Medical College Next-Gen Neuroscience
Cost: Free
Program dates: Last Monday of June – First Friday of August
Application deadline: March 1
Eligibility: Open to all high school students over age 16 (local students are given preference)
The NextGen Neuroscience Summer Program at Albany Medical College is a six-week, live and virtual experience that immerses participants in neuroscience research. It helps you understand key concepts such as neuroanatomy, scientific research methods, and clinical trials, while also enhancing your skills in scientific communication.
You’ll also engage in professional development sessions, where you’ll learn how to craft a CV, write personal statements, and even present your findings in front of peers and faculty. With a focus on both academic and career growth, the program is designed to prepare you for future studies and research opportunities in neuroscience.
8. sci-MI Neuroscience Mentorship Program
Cost: Free
Program dates: July 1–August 10
Application deadline: Rolling
Eligibility: Open to all high school students ( preference is given to students underrepresented in neuroscience or without prior research experience)
The sci-MI Neuroscience Mentorship Program is an online summer neuroscience research opportunity where you’ll work independently on a neuroscience research project using open-access tools and guidance from volunteer mentors. Each week, you’ll take part in journal clubs where you and your peers present and discuss neuroscience papers, alongside weekly recorded lectures that cover core topics in the field.
If you’re participating synchronously, you’ll receive one-on-one mentorship to support your research and help refine your presentation. By the end of this program, you’ll present your work in a 10–15 minute talk and submit a written paper that can serve as a supplement for college or research program applications.
9. ENIGMA-U
Cost: Free
Program dates: Self-paced
Application deadline: No deadline, students can access the course material all year round.
Eligibility: Open to senior high school and early college students (internationally) focusing on historically excluded groups in neuroscience.
ENIGMA-U is a free online neuroscience education resource that focuses on building foundational knowledge in neuroscience, neuroimaging, and neuropsychology through structured virtual modules. Aimed especially at high school students from underrepresented backgrounds, it provides access to expert-led content covering brain imaging techniques like MRI, brain-behavior relationships, and scientific research methods.
While the core resource is open to all, you may be considered for selective mentorship and internship opportunities with affiliated neuroscience labs through the ENIGMA Consortium.
10. Johns Hopkins Internship in Brain Science Program (JHIBS)
Cost: Free; in-person interns are paid an hourly stipend, and virtual interns are provided a $500 stipend
Program dates: In-person program: 8 weeks; Virtual program: 5 weeks (June to August)
Application deadline: December 1 – March 1
Eligibility: High school juniors and seniors (in the U.S. for the virtual program and in Baltimore City, MD, for the in-person program).
The Johns Hopkins Internship in Brain Sciences (JHIBS) is a 5-week online summer neuroscience research opportunity for high school students interested in neuroscience and related fields. As a participant, you’ll engage in a range of activities such as educational lectures on neurological science topics, professional development sessions, and guided virtual training in basic lab techniques and research methods.
You’ll also work with mentors from the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, gaining exposure to the processes of scientific inquiry and the responsibilities of clinician-scientists. The program culminates in a research presentation where you’ll demonstrate what you’ve learned in the program and be awarded a certificate upon successful completion.
11. Stanford University Clinical Neuroscience Immersion Experience (CNI-X)
Cost: $1,595 (scholarships available)
Program dates: June 16–27
Application deadline: March 1 (rolling admissions)
Eligibility: Open to high school students aged 14–18 ( applicants must be in high school or recent graduate).
The Stanford Clinical Neuroscience Immersion Experience (CNI-X) is a two-week summer program where you explore core topics in neuroscience through interactive seminars and discussions with Stanford faculty. You’ll examine practical issues while learning how neuroscience research intersects with mental health care and clinical practice.
A major component of this online summer neuroscience research opportunity for high school students involves collaborating with peers on a capstone project that proposes solutions to current challenges in brain and behavioral health, which you’ll present at the end of the session. Along the way, you’ll also be introduced to concepts such as neuroimaging, behavioral neuroscience, and psychiatric epidemiology.
12. George Mason University College of Science – Aspiring Scientists Summer Internship Program (ASSIP)
Cost: $25 application fee (may be waived based on financial need)
Program dates: June 18 – August 8
Application deadline: February 2
Eligibility: Open to high school students 15 years or older by June 18
ASSIP at the George Mason University College of Science gives motivated students the chance to conduct original research alongside professional scientists in various areas including neuroscience. If selected, you’ll spend several weeks contributing to projects that may lead to conference presentations or co-authored publications.
The experience includes one-on-one mentorship and skill-building in scientific writing and communication. In the neuroscience-focused tracks, past student projects have explored topics like neural signal processing, brain-computer interfaces, and the psychology of learning.
13. Johns Hopkins University – Neuroscience and Human Behavior (AS.080.140)
Cost: $1,950 + $85 application fee (financial aid is available)
Program dates: Session One: June 23–July 4 | Session Two: July 7–18 | Session Three: July 21–August 1
Application deadline: Rolling until full (students are advised to apply early)
Eligibility: Open to all high school students
This program at Johns Hopkins University lets you explore how neural mechanisms influence actions, emotions, and cognition by studying real-world phenomena like language changes after brain injury or how a single receptor can alter animal behavior. This asynchronous online summer neuroscience research opportunity for high school students lets you work at your own pace while still meeting structured daily and weekly assignment deadlines, ensuring steady engagement with the material.
You’ll explore topics such as neural circuitry, neurochemistry, and the biological basis of behavior, and critically examine whether the brain functions like a computational system. Though the course is primarily self-paced, optional live sessions – including office hours and discussions – allow for interaction with instructors and peers.
14. University of Washington Young Scholars Program-Reach
Cost: $100 (scholarships available)
Program dates: July 14-18
Application deadline: March 15
Eligibility: Open to all high school students, including graduating seniors
Reach is a virtual summer program that introduces high school students to the interdisciplinary field of neural engineering, blending neuroscience with technology and ethics. Over 5 days, you’ll dive into critical topics such as how brain-computer interfaces work, the ethical implications of neurotechnology, and principles of scientific communication.
The program also includes virtual lab tours of research facilities affiliated with the Center for Neurotechnology. This can give you a view into practical applications across computer science and electrical engineering.
15. Rosetta Institute Biomedical Camps
Cost: Varies by program; typically ranges from $1,500–$5,000 (financial aid is available)
Program dates: Multiple programs available between June 9 and August 15
Application deadline: Rolling
Eligibility: Open to students from ages 14–18; 12+ for select sessions
The Rosetta Institute’s online biomedical camps include several neuroscience-relevant workshops taught by instructors with PhDs in biomedical fields. If you join one of these sessions, you’ll study the molecular and cellular biology underlying human health, then explore how these systems are altered in neurological disorders.
You’ll attend live lectures, analyze biomedical data using online tools, and apply what you learn to design your own research project focused on a gene or process of your choice. Workshops also emphasize experimental design and the principles of personalized medicine, helping you build skills useful for research, science fairs, or future academic work.
Image source – Rosetta Institute of Biomedical Research